Department for Transport

Railway Track: Iron and Steel

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports that British Steel provides 97per cent of the steel for railway tracks, what are the implications for Network Rail if British Steel ceases to trade.

baroness vere of norbiton: Network Rail’s priority is ensuring passengers have a safe, reliable railway while delivering value for money for taxpayers. They are responsible for maintaining contingency plans to deal with a wide range of situations that could impact the effective operation of the railway.The Department has been working closely with Network Rail for a number of weeks to understand the impacts on them. Network Rail has strong plans in place to make sure that they are able to carry out all critical work on the railway.

Skipton-Colne Railway Line

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 23 May (HL15714), why they did not answer the final part of the question about who is carrying out further studies into the possible reinstatement and reopening of the Colne–Skipton railway line; whether they will now provide that answer; why the Written Answer mentioned Andrew Stephenson MP; and what is his role inthe studies referred to.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government has asked the CH2MC consortium comprising Jacobs, CPC, GHD, Poise and Gardiner & Theobald to provide technical advice and assurance on further feasibility work to assess the freight demand and commercial viability of this scheme. This advisory support was sourced from the current Specialist Technical and Commercial Advice for Rail (STAR) Framework. The response to HL15714 simply reflects the fact that the Member for Pendle, Andrew Stephenson MP, has made strong representations to Ministers about the proposal to reinstate the Colne-Skipton rail link. In response the Secretary of State for Transport has visited Colne twice in the last 16 months.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 11 September 2018 (HL10265), whether the volumes of DecaBDE in existing upholstered furniture have been established; and what procedures are in place to safely dispose of such furniture.

lord henley: The Government does not hold information on the volumes of DecaBDE in existing upholstered furniture. The Government is working with stakeholders and experts to assess the best routes for disposal of waste containing DecaBDE to protect the environment and human health.

Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was (1) the basis, and (2) the supporting evidence, for the proposal contained in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s 2016 consultation on the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations to continue to include children’s mattresses in the scope of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, in the light of the EU ban on the use of brominated and organophosphate chemicals in children’s mattresses.

lord henley: The Government has been reviewing the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. The 2016 consultation on updating the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations sought views on proposals for clarifying and amending the scope of the regulations. The Department will publish its response to the 2016 consultation in due course. Chemicals, including brominated and organophosphate flame retardants used in UK furniture, are regulated under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). REACH aims to provide a high level of protection for health and the environment from the use of chemicals including those used in products.

Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henleyon 21 May (HL15638), what steps they are taking toclarify which of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 or the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 should take precedence in circumstances where either might apply, such as in (1) domestic and communal spaces in care homes,or(2) an office room based in a domestic dwelling.

lord henley: The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 apply to upholstered furniture which is ordinarily intended for private use in a dwelling. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) is primarily for businesses and other non-domestic premises including communal areas of multi-occupied residential premises – where the communal areas are effectively workplaces and not primarily domestic premises. For care homes where the main use is the provision of residential care, the FSO applies to the entire premises as they are a workplace. It does not apply to people’s private homes.

Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 May (HL15637),how much of the allocation for 2018–19has been spent on product compliance testing; how many tests were conducted; and what were the results.

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the Office for Product Safety and Standards has spent on testing for complianceusing the match test under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 since its formation; how many fabrics have failed the test; and how many have passed.

lord henley: The Office for Product Safety and Standards allocated £500k in 2018/19 for local authority trading standards to fund the testing of products that were manufactured or imported into their local authority area. Test reports are currently being collated and the data analysed to establish the total numbers of samples tested, the product safety legislation that has been tested to and the level of non-compliance. The results of this analysis are expected in the summer and will be published in due course.

Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 22 May (HL15636),which scientific evidence from external sources including academic papers and studies they are taking into account; what are the dates of meetings that have taken place to discuss the progress of the review; and whether they have met (1) Professor Richard Hull of the University of Central Lancashire, or (2) Bob Birtles of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, in relation to the review.

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 22 May (HL15639), what is the basis for their assertionthat the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 ensure the “highest levels of fire safety”; and what assessment they have made of the findings of the (1) 2014and2016 consultations on reforming the law, and (2) Flame retardants in UK furniture increase smoke toxicity more than they reduce the fire growth rate,published in the Chemosphere in April 2018.

lord henley: The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 are being reviewed to ensure they reflect changed fire safety risks, innovation, manufacturing processes and environmental and health concerns of chemical flame retardants whilst maintaining product safety protections. The Department will publish its response to the 2016 consultation in due course. This will take into account of the responses received, the views of experts from across government including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Public Health England, the Food Standards Agency and the Fire Services, as well as a range of evidence from external sources such as academic papers. Ministers have not had meetings with Professor Richard Hull or Bob Birtles. Details of ministerial meetings with external bodies are published on the Gov.uk website.

Business: Productivity

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of a disorderly Brexit on UK business productivity.

lord henley: The Government’s Long-term Economic Analysis of EU Exit (November 2018) provides a publicly available assessment of the possible long-term economic impacts of the UK's future relationship with the EU under different scenarios including a no deal scenario. The analysis summarises theory and evidence that openness to trade can increase productivity and long-term growth by exposing firms to competition, best practice, new technologies and through investment. This can contribute to higher wages, employment and households' living standards. A reduction in trade volumes between countries would be expected to lower productivity and long-term growth. In the Government’s analysis a no deal scenario is estimated to lower long-run GDP by 9% to 6% compared with today’s arrangements. In the analysis, this reflects the combined impact of trade frictions which reduce trade and affect firms' gross output, their productivity and households' purchasing power.The Bank of England’s EU Withdrawal Scenarios and Monetary and Financial Stability report (published November 2018) also found that openness to trade affects productivity. The report’s disorderly exit scenario found a ‘large’ reduction in productivity.These analyses are scenarios not forecasts. The scenarios illustrate what could happen under a range of key assumptions.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

North Korea: Human Trafficking

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that skewed gender ratios in China are exacerbating human trafficking from North Korea to China and leading to enforced prostitution and enslavement of women.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: It is possible that alongside a number of other social and economic factors, China’s skewed gender balance has contributed to the creation of a market in neighbouring countries, including North Korea, for trafficked girls and young women. The UK is at the forefront of raising global awareness of modern slavery and sexual violence, and continues to raise our concerns with other governments about the trafficking of girls and young women and the misery and suffering they endure.

Greece: Asylum

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what reports they have received of refoulement and maltreatment contrary to the UN Convention on Refugees, by the Greek authoritiesagainst persons trying to claim asylum on the frontierbetween Greece and Turkey in Thrace; and whether they will make further enquiries and representations to the government of Greece about any such reported treatment.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are aware of recent media reports that asylum seekers have transferred back across the land border from Greece to Turkey against their will.The British Government recognises the importance of all countries observing their obligations under international law to uphold the principle of non-refoulement, and remains committed to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.Our Ambassador visited the border area in November 2018, and had discussions with the Hellenic Police and representatives of the Greek Reception & Identification Service about the processing of arriving migrants.Where the UK has concerns about the conditions faced by migrants we will continue to raise them as part of our regular engagement at Ministerial and official level.

Saudi Arabia: Capital Punishment

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have raised with the government of Saudi Arabia its decision to execute 37 men convicted of terrorism on 23 April; and whether they have sought further clarification of the terrorist offences for which those executed were convicted.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are very concerned by the 37 executions in Saudi Arabia on 23 April. The Foreign Secretary raised this matter directly and asked for more information from the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, HE Minister Al Jubeir. The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, including in Saudi Arabia. We regularly raise human rights concerns, including the use of the death penalty, at the highest levels with the Saudi Arabian authorities. We consistently and unreservedly condemn torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and it is a priority for us to challenge it wherever and whenever it occurs.

Hong Kong: Extradition

baroness northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in view of the human rights guarantees in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, what assessment they have made of the implications for(1) human rights, and (2) the independence of the judiciary, in Hong Kong of the government of Hong Kong's proposals to amendits extradition law.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have noted the concerns voiced by legal and business representative organisations and civil society groups in Hong Kong about both the content and the short consultation period allowed for the proposed changes to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance.We have raised a number of issues relating to the proposals with the Hong Kong Government at senior levels. These include potential implications for both our joint security cooperation and our bilateral extradition treaty and the potential consequences for the UK business community and for UK citizens living in or travelling through Hong Kong. We will continue to seek clarity from the authorities on these points.The Foreign Secretary and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland, issued a Joint Statement on 30 May, which noted concern for the potential effect of the proposals on the large number of UK and Canadian citizens in Hong Kong, on business confidence and on Hong Kong’s international reputation. They made clear that any extradition arrangements in Hong Kong should be in line with ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and fully respect Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy. They also urged the Hong Kong Government to engage meaningfully with Hong Kong’s broad range of local and international stakeholders in order to ensure their concerns are fully considered.

Hong Kong: Extradition

baroness northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of implications for the UK’s extradition treaty with Hong Kong of that government's proposals to amend its extradition law.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have noted the concerns voiced by legal and business representative organisations and civil society groups in Hong Kong about both the content and the short consultation period allowed for the proposed changes to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance.We have raised a number of issues relating to the proposals with the Hong Kong Government at senior levels. These include potential implications for both our joint security cooperation and our bilateral extradition treaty and the potential consequences for the UK business community and for UK citizens living in or travelling through Hong Kong. We will continue to seek clarity from the authorities on these points.The Foreign Secretary and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland, issued a Joint Statement on 30 May, which noted concern for the potential effect of the proposals on the large number of UK and Canadian citizens in Hong Kong, on business confidence and on Hong Kong’s international reputation. They made clear that any extradition arrangements in Hong Kong should be in line with ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and fully respect Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy. They also urged the Hong Kong Government to engage meaningfully with Hong Kong’s broad range of local and international stakeholders in order to ensure their concerns are fully considered.

Palestinians: Refugees

lord pickles: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East's working definition of a Palestinian refugee is in alignment with the UK's policy towards the Middle East Peace Process.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK recognises the United Nations Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) unique mandate from the UN General Assembly, to protect and provide essential services to Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. The UK continues to adhere to UNRWA's definition of a Palestinian refugee: those whose 'normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict'. We are clear that the status of Palestinian refugees must be agreed as part of wider peace negotiations. Meanwhile, the UK remains firmly committed to supporting the UNRWA across the Middle East. This is in line with our longstanding position on the Middle East Peace Process, which includes supporting a just, fair, agreed and realistic settlement for Palestinian refugees.

Hungary: Human Rights

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of possible human rights violations in Hungary; and what steps they are taking to work with EU member states to address any such problem.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK plays a leading role in the promotion and protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law around the world. Our Embassy in Budapest works closely with a wide range of partners in Hungary on this agenda, including with civil society organisations. Whilst the UK remains a Member of the EU, it will continue to take part in discussion of such issues within the EU. When the UK leaves the EU, it expects to maintain its dialogue with its European partners and allies bilaterally on all matters of interest to the UK, including on human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Department of Health and Social Care

Asthma: Prescriptions

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what responsethey have made of the report by Asthma UK Paying to breathe: Why unfair asthma prescription charges must be stopped; and whether they have responded, or intend to respond, to that report.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: I recently met with Asthma UK and discussed their report. Departmental officials continue to engage with Asthma UK on the issues raised in the meeting.The Government has no plans to review the current system of medical exemptions from prescription charges. Extensive arrangements are already in place to help people access National Health Service prescriptions. These include a broad range of NHS prescription charge exemptions.To support those with the greatest need who do not qualify for an exemption, the cost of the prescription pre-payment certificates has been frozen for another year. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions they need for just £2 per week.

Asthma: Medical Equipment

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of inhaler users who are(1) not getting their inhaler technique checked, and (2) not using their inhaler properly.

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey havemade of the impact on patients of not using their asthma inhalers correctly.

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking tointroduce national guidelinesto ensure thateveryone with asthma should get their inhaler technique checked annually as part of their asthma review.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: Respiratory disease is a clinical priority within the NHS Long Term Plan.The NHS Long Term Plan sets out how the National Health Service will take action in a number of areas, including managing inhaled medications. Pharmacists in primary care networks will undertake a range of medicine reviews, including educating patients on the correct use of inhalers and contributing to multidisciplinary working.Data on inhaler technique is not routinely collected in England. The national asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease audit programme will include data on asthma from 2019. This will include data on inhaler technique and will enable monitoring in England.

Medical Treatments: Children

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government what processes are in place to safeguard children with chronic fatigue syndrome and other disorders whose parents have enrolled them on Lightning Process courses; and what evaluation has been undertaken of the (1) benefits, and (2) harms, to those children who have participated in such courses.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The Lightning Process (LP) is not offered as a part of the chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) standard treatments on the National Health Service. Subject to the nature of the safeguarding concerns, issues should be directed to the relevant professional regulator, should the practitioner be a member of a registered profession; the local authority (trading standards office or children’s service), if false claims are being made about the effectiveness of the treatment or welfare of a child is a concern; or the police, if a crime is involved.The LP involves a course of three half-days of training aiming to teach participants how to use their brain to improve their body's health.A randomised controlled trial with 100 adolescents aged 12-18 was undertaken by researchers in Bristol. Participants were randomised into two groups: those who received standard CFS/ME treatment and those who received the standard treatment plus the LP.Researchers found those who received the LP had better physical function, were less tired and less anxious after six months. At 12 months, they had further improvement in physical function, and improved depression scores and school attendance. This research trial had several limitations as set out in the peer reviewed journal article. This was a very small trial and so it would need to be repeated in a much larger group to demonstrate more generalisable findings. Participants were not blinded so their self-reported outcomes might have been biased, for example participants may have been more likely to report positive outcomes because they knew they were getting additional therapy in the LP group. Of all those eligible to participate in the trial, fewer than 30% agreed to take part. Participants in the trial did not have any serious adverse events attributable to either LP or usual care. LP therapy was given in addition to the usual CFS/ME care as a no-treatment control group was not deemed ethical, therefore it cannot be suggested as a replacement for current specialised medical care.Independent ethical review ensures that participant safety is at the centre of all research. In the United Kingdom, review by an ethics committee is one of a series of safeguards intended to protect the people taking part in the research. The operating procedure for trials in the UK has inbuilt safeguards designed to protect patients from harm in the event an intervention is ineffective or potentially harmful. Participants are free to withdraw from a study at any time.

Attorney General

Royal Albert Hall

lord hodgson of astley abbotts: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Keen of Elie on 18 February (HL13508), when the Attorney General expects to give a decision on the application by the Charity Commission to refer questions concerning the Royal Albert Hall to the Charity Tribunal.

lord keen of elie: Last year the Charity Commission wrote to the Attorney General requesting his consent to refer five questions to the First-Tier Tribunal concerning the Corporation of the Hall of Arts and Sciences – i.e. the Royal Albert Hall, which is a registered charity. While the Charity Commission has the power to refer questions to the Tribunal, it may only do so with the consent of the Attorney General, as set out in section 325 of the Charities Act 2011. As set out in the Written Answer HL13508, this is a complex case and careful consideration is being given to the detailed representations made by the Corporation and the Commission. While it is not yet possible to provide an estimate as to when a final decision will be made, a preliminary response from officials is being drawn up setting out initial views and inviting further discussion between the parties. This will be sent to the Commission and the Corporation shortly.

Department for International Development

Democratic Republic of Congo: Ebola

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking, with their international partners, to check the spread of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and what estimate they have made of the number of Ebola (1) cases, and (2) related deaths, in that country since August 2018.

baroness sugg: The UK is taking the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo extremely seriously. We are working with international partners to monitor the outbreak, and have been a leading donor to the response. UK funding to the World Health Organisation and UNICEF has enabled key activities critical to ending the outbreak including surveillance, contact tracing, infection prevention and control and vaccination.As of 27 May 2019, there have been 1,920 confirmed and probable cases and 1,281 deaths. However, consistent disruption to response activities, a high proportion of community deaths, and a low proportion of cases from known contacts, means that the number of cases may be higher than reported.

Department for Education

Overseas Students: EU Nationals

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether EU students enrolling on higher education courses in England in the 2020–21 academic year will be eligible for home fee status and financial support.

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to set out the(1) fee status, and (2) loan eligibility, of EU undergraduate students commencing courses at English higher education providers in the 2020–21 academic year.

viscount younger of leckie: The department recognises that staff and providers are concerned about what EU exit means for study and collaboration opportunities.To help give certainty, on 28 May 2019, the department announced guarantees on student finance for EU nationals. EU nationals (and their family members) who start a course in England in the 2020/21 academic year or before will continue to be eligible for ‘home fee’ status and student finance support from Student Finance England for the duration of their course, provided they meet the residency requirement. These guarantees are not altered if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Apprentices: Taxation

baroness neville-rolfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many new-style apprenticeships have started since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy.

lord agnew of oulton: There have been 305,200 starts on apprenticeship standards since May 2017 following the introduction of the apprenticeship levy, reported to date as at January 2019.

Ministry of Justice

Prison Officers: Resignations

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons for the number of prison officers resigning within 12 months of taking up their posts; and whether those reasons include the level of violence in UK prisons.

lord keen of elie: The huge number of officers we have recently recruited inevitably means there are more staff - and more leavers with less than one years' experience. Attached is a table containing reason for leaving and grade. (Table i) We are working hard to retain staff, giving staff the biggest pay increase in a decade last year and by providing additional training.



Table (i)
(Excel SpreadSheet, 19.36 KB)

Department for Work and Pensions

Occupational Money Purchase Schemes

lord hain: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to bring forward legislation to introduce collective defined contribution pension schemes in the UK.

baroness buscombe: This Government has recently published a response to a Collective Defined Contribution schemes consultation setting out its plans, and has engaged extensively with key stakeholders.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Animal Welfare: Grants

lord hanningfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government what grants were made by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to animal welfare groups in each of the last five years; to which groups they were made; and how much was provided in each grant.

lord gardiner of kimble: The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs. As part of a government wide digital transparency self-service agenda, government grant data from the previous three years is available online through the Government Grants Information System (GGIS). Data for Defra is combined with data for Defra’s arms-length bodies. As we have no firm definition of what an animal welfare group is these grants would not be easily identifiable on the GGIS.

Home Office

Disadvantaged: EU Grants and Loans

lord dubs: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the total value of the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived; and how much the UK was allocated from that fund in the financial years (1) 2017–18, and (2) 2018–19.

baroness williams of trafford: The UK allocation from the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) was €3.94m for the 2014-20 period. FEAD operates on a funding year which differs from the standard financial year; the FEAD year runs 1st January to 31st December, and funding is allocated for the full 7-year programme. There is not a set amount allocated for each financial year, so the specific information in the question on allocation of funds for the year 2017 and 2018 is not available.The funding information for the period 2014-20 is set out in detail at sections 1-7 in the published Explanatory Memorandum dated 23rd January 2018, reference 14699/18 COM (18)742, which is available at: http://europeanmemoranda.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/files/2019/01/EM_14699_18.pdf



EM 14699 - 18 
(PDF Document, 92.99 KB)

Biometrics

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision by legislators in San Francisco to ban the use of facial recognition technology by local agencies; and what consideration they have given to introducing a similar ban in the UK until evidence of the effectiveness of such technology is more robust and the legal ground for widespread use is more clear.

baroness williams of trafford: It is a matter for the San Francisco City Board of Supervisors whether its agencies should use facial recognition technology, and it is right to debate the use of new technologies in democratic societies.Live Facial Recognition (LFR) has the potential to play an important role in tackling crime, and the police here have commissioned independent reviews of its effectiveness. The police have broad common law powers to prevent and detect crime, which allows them to use surveillance cameras and LFR in public places for policing purposes.However, these powers must be exercised in accordance with the law including the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, Human Rights Act, Data Protection Act and having regard to the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice. Possible matches produced by LFR systems are always checked by a human operator before deciding what, if any, action to take.

Crimes of Violence: Emergency Services

lord clark of windermere: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many individuals have been charged with offences under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018; and how many of those incidents occurred in connection with the provision of services by the NHS.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office does not hold information on the number of individuals charged under The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act, which came into effect on 13 November 2018. However, police forces in England and Wales provide the Home Office with data on the number of offences recorded of Assault or assault by beating of a constable or emergency worker that resulted in a charge.Between 13 November 2018 to 31 December 2018, there were 947 offences recorded under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 that resulted in a charge. However, this provides an incomplete count of all individuals charged under this Act because some offences will result in more than one offender being charged and more serious incidents may result in a higher charge such as Grievous Bodily Harm.The Home Office does not hold data on whether or not the incident occurred in connection with the services provided by the NHS.

Cabinet Office

Electoral Register: Data Protection

lord gilbert of panteg: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Young of Cookham on 5 June 2018 (HL7937) and 20 November 2018 (HL11157), what is their proposed timetable for amending the secondary legislation on electoral registers in the light of the commitments made by Ministers during the Data Protection Bill; and what were the conclusions of the discussions with the Parliamentary Parties Panel on this matter.

lord young of cookham: The Parliamentary Parties Panel indicated broad support for the proposal to amend secondary legislation on electoral registers, in light of the commitments made during the Data Protection Bill to support democratic engagement. The Government intends to engage further with the appropriate stakeholders, with a view to then making any necessary amendments to secondary legislation.